Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: MR imaging at 1.0 and 1.5 T

Ten cases of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Proof of diagnosis was by needle biopsy or follow-up of as long as 5 years. Both short TR/TE and long TR/TE images were obtained. The most common finding was isointensity of the lesion relative to liver parenchyma with all pulse sequences. A central scar was seen in only one patient and was hyperintense on long TR/TE images. Slight hyperintensity of the lesion on short TR/TE and long TR/TE images was seen in two cases. Textural heterogeneity was present in only one of these. The most common presentation in our series was a visually isointense lesion relative to liver on short TR/TE images and an isointense or slightly hyperintense lesion on long TR/TE images. A review of the literature and the present findings suggest that FNH has a variable appearance on MR images.